 Jason E. Barker, ND
Naturopathic Medical Doctor
Sports Medicine & General Practice
GREENWOOD VILLAGE
Orchard Falls Building
7800 East Orchard Road, Suite 120
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Phone: (303) 382-9200
Visit: drjasonbarker.com
About Me... As a 5th generation Coloradan, I grew up skiing, climbing, running and mountain biking in the Rocky Mountains, and worked as an EMT on a ski patrol in Colorado while earning my Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Medicine, with a Minor in Anatomy & Neurobiology from Colorado State University. I completed my doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. Following completion of medical school, I spent an additional 2 years in a residency program at the National College of Natural Medicine’s Family Practice Residency program in Portland, Oregon.
Following residency, I completed additional postdoctoral training at Oregon Health & Sciences University earning a Certificate In Clinical Research and as a junior investigator at Helfgott Research Institute. I now serve as a clinical consultant to the nutraceutical and sports medicine industry and as Director of Sport Science at Gleukos Performance Beverage. I have written numerous articles for the journals Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Natural Pharmacy, and The Townsend Letter, and am co-author of the book “Herbs and Nutrients for the Mind”: A Guide to Natural Brain Enhancers. I also lecture internationally on natural medicines, and have been interviewed on radio programs across the country. I am available for medical services such as at sporting events, and consulting to the nutraceutical and sports medicine industries for natural product creation and education, and proactive health classes for schools, businesses, sports teams, and sports store clinics. Currently, I am a recreationally competitive runner, and enjoy skiing and spending time with my family.
Note to Potential Patients:
I completed my pre-medical studies at Colorado State University and I earned my doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. Following completion of medical school, I spent an additional 2 years in residency at the National College of Natural Medicine’s Family Residency program in Portland, Oregon. This was a 10-year period of rigorous study; upon graduation I was eligible to sit for state health board licensing exams.
In the U.S., 14 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands extend primary care physician licensing to naturopathic physicians. All states require graduation from an accredited 4-year, in-residence naturopathic medical school and must pass postdoctoral board examinations before receiving a license to practice medicine. In addition, each state mandates yearly continuing education requirements for licensed physicians. I maintain a current, active license to practice medicine in the state of Oregon. In Colorado, the practice of naturopathic medicine is not yet regulated; therefore I encourage potential patients to understand the differences in education and training between licensed naturopathic physicians and those people calling themselves naturopaths that were ‘creatively educated’ via correspondence courses. The most effective way to discern whether a person has the proper training to call themselves a naturopathic physician is whether they attended one of the accredited 4-year medical schools that award the degree of Naturopathic Physician in the United States: * Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
* Bastyr University
* National College of Naturopathic Medicine
* University of Bridgeport
* National University of Health Sciences (opened September 2006) Otherwise, I encourage the reader to visit the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians’ website for more information on this subject. I use my extensive training and education, as well as laboratory testing to correctly discern the needs of my patients. I do not use any gimmicks to diagnose a person’s state of health. Office visit rates depend on the complexity of the condition(s) being treated. In general, the majority of first-time office visits will last an hour; return visits are typically 45 minutes. This allows me to gain a full understanding of your condition, and gives you plenty of time as well to gain an awareness of your condition and treatment. The length of time between office visits varies as well; acute cases may need more attention while more chronic conditions may only return every 4-6 weeks or longer as I like to allow ample time for change to occur. In order for one to take full responsibility for their health (by receiving true health care, rather than disease & symptom management) this may necessitate out of pocket payment, much the same as obtaining nearly all other quality goods and services in society today. My office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. I do not process any type of health insurance. The greatest monetary investment a patient will have during their treatment at my clinic are the natural medicine supplements I utilize to improve health. Supplements are expensive, regardless of where they are obtained. However, my education allows me to discern the quality and potency of supplements available to the consumer and thereby employ those that are most effective. It can be difficult for consumers to know the difference between a high quality, useful supplement and one that is worthless. I utilize physician-only lines of supplements that contain exactly what they say they do; they are quite potent and therefore only available to physicians, rather than the layperson randomly selecting them at a health food store. The supplement manufacturers I patronize make their products available to physicians like myself that know how to use them rather than for the lay market that does not necessarily understand their safe and effective use. Because of this, I can use high-quality, potent materials to produce effective changes in people working to improve their health. This is a vital aspect of my approach to helping my patients succeed. Additionally, I do not utilize or participate in multi-level marketed supplements, and have no interest to do so. I often co-manage patients with their MD, DO, or Family Nurse Practitioner, and refer out to chiropractors, acupuncturists and licensed massage therapists as the needs of the patient arise. I find that people often have the most success with a number of people on their team, all working toward a common goal- your health! It is my goal to provide you with the best healthcare possible; this will become apparent as you see your health change for the better as we work together. Yours in health, Dr. Jason E. Barker |
